Girl Like You & Two Sands Triumph at the 2021 WA Screen Culture Awards

Filmmaking dreams really do come true, a ground-breaking documentary shot over 6 years and an emotionally charged short film… 

 A true DIY indie feature from Albany-based writer-turned-director-and-producer, Adam Morris, EDWARD AND ISABELLA, has taken the gong for Narrative Feature Film with a budget under $1m at the WA Screen Culture Awards; held on Sunday 5 December at Luna Leederville, hosted by comedian Dave Callan.

The fully self-financed project was shot over 18-days with a total budget of just $15,000 and stands as a shining example of shoestring creativity.

The ground-breaking documentary GIRL LIKE YOU which premiered recently to rave reviews on ABC was awarded the WASCA for Feature Documentary. Shot over 6 years, GIRL LIKE YOU explores the raw and confronting reality of changing genders while in a relationship.

A short film about a South Sudanese boy’s first day in school,TWO SANDS, cleaned up taking home 4 WASCAs including Short Film, Outstanding Achievement in Performance, Outstanding Achievement in Production Design and Outstanding Achievement in Sound. TWO SANDS will screen as part of the Perth Festival’s Lotterywest Films program at the Somerville Auditorium 6 – 12 December.

“It’s a great honour and pleasure to be in some small way associated with these films, these filmmakers and the WA screen industry overall,” says Revelation Film Festival Director Richard Sowada.

“Each and every one of them is of an international standard and testament to the creative strength and skill of the local sector in all its forms and to fly that flag is enormously rewarding.”

Despite the impact CV-19 lockdowns and restrictions have had on the creative industries over the past 18 months, our local scene has proven resilience, managing to deliver the goods in the face of adversity, with the 2021 WA Screen Culture Awards showcasing the cream of the crop.

Announcing the full list of winners:

INNOVATION AWARDS

• Narrative Feature Film with budget under $1m
  • Edward and Isabella
     
• Feature Documentary / Non Fiction
  • Girl Like you
     
• Short Film / Animation presented by AFTRS
  • Two Sands
     
• Student Film
  • Linger
     
• Music Video presented by Johnny Ma Studios
  • Abiogenesis
     
• Game Design
  • Dementia Training Australia
     
• Commercial Content
  • Dementia Training Australia
     
• Moving Image and Installation Art
  • Alluvium
     
• Virtual Reality, 360° or Augmented Reality
  • Virtual Whadjuk
     
• Web Series or Online Content
  • Hug the Sun

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

• Directing
  • In Australia; Miley Tunnecliffe
     
•  Cinematography or Visualisation presented by the City of Fremantle
  • Stop The Coward Punch; Jim Frater
     
• Writing
  • Sparkles; Tina Fielding
     
• Performance presented by PAC Screen Workshops
  • Two Sands; Garang John Deng
     
• Production Design (incl. costume, set design, hair and makeup etc)
  • Two Sands; Emma Vickery
     
• Editing
  • In Australia; Caitlan O’Connor
     
• Sound or Sound Design
  • Two Sands; Nick McKenzie and Josh Hogan
     
• Original Music
  • In Australia; Stephen Callan

Two Special Industry Awards were also awarded as part of the 2021 WASCAs; the Contribution to the Industry, presented by Komixx Entertainment, was awarded to Perry Sandow and the Independent Spirit Award went to Johnny Ma.

Having spent over 40 years in the industry, Sandow is one of Australia’s most experienced and knowledgeable gaffers and lighting directors. Ma owns and operates Johnny Ma Studios – a creative hub offering a one-stop-shop for basically everything and everyone, regardless of your experience in the industry. 

This year’s Awards trophies were specially designed by Factor 30 Films, Geographik, Square Peg Home and Artcom Fabrication and made possible with the support of the City of Fremantle. A true synergy of local creatives working together for an event which is a celebration of local creatives, the 2021 WASCA trophies were produced using responsibly sourced Western Australian Blackbutt.

The WASCAs are proudly presented and produced by the Revelation Perth International Film Festival in collaboration with the WA screen industry.